Nothing to say here

Lately i've had nothing to say here. Peaks and troughs is what its been like. Barren.

You'll maybe have noticed. I have. I want to say things but I'm not sure it's what people want to read. It's my blog, I should post what I want, shouldn't I?

One thing I decided was this. I'll not be doing a post whereby I recap the year gone and set lists for the year to come. I say this now, wait for a few weeks and a list will likely appear. The last list I wrote was my 35 things in my 35th year. That was back in March. we're still in my 35th year though but the list has long been forgotten. Maybe i set my list items to high. Am I aiming too high? Am I not aiming high enough? All I know is that most things on that list haven't yet been achieved. And that's not something you want hanging over you is it. See, aiming too high?

Saying that, there are still 3 months left of my 35th year and i'm sure if i really put my mind to it I could start crossing off some things on that list. Couldn't I? Let's see shall we...

THE LIST
AGAIN.
hashtag #35InMy35th

1. a road trip north, south, east and west
2. wear pink lips - done! light pink MAC Angel and Dior Lucky!
3. a sunshine holiday
4. show off my iPhonography - it's pretty cool - done. Instagram. that works for me.
5. go out dancing, in heels! - YES, the Christmas night out at work. Once in a year. Lame ;)
6. ride my bike to work 2 days per week (disclaimer: in summer!) - oy, big fat fail.
7. bake more cakes - does sticky toffee pudding count. Yes!
8. have a dinner party
9. be 8 stone, consistently - how about 8 stone something? Yes!!
10. see a movie at the IMAX - hello Batman! - DONE, TDKR. It was good. Not sure IMAX is worth it though.
11. meet new people that like me just the way I am
12. wear a skirt to work regularly - Once or twice is enough isn't it?
13. eat less sweets and chocolate - FAIL FAIL FAIL...
14. Alton Towers day trip! - 2013 for sure!
15. try not to bother what anyone else thinks about me. I'm awesome. - i can't help this...
16. get full series of a tv programme and watch them all (LoveFilm) what do you suggest? - still looking for suggestions?!!
17. get some cools photos of me done
18. say "yes" to a social outing when I want to say "no"
19. make some of the things from my Crafty board on Pinterest - snowflakes for Christmas!
20. collaborate with someone on a project
21. keep my skin healthy - my skin is dry, i have to face that. It'll never be flawless. But i'm keeping it as best i can.
22. finish reading the book on my bedside table - Fail, but i have read more books this year!
23. get an international check in on Foursquare - OH MY. Failed. 
24. tweet a picture from somewhere AMAZING - again...fail...
25. have more faith in my gut instincts. They're usually right. - I did trust my gut this year. I am right. I WIN AT THIS.
26. get this blog sorted. If anyone wants to help me please shout! - still looking for some help?
27. see a real life Banksy (this has been on most of my lists) - 2013, for sure, it can't be that hard to find.
28. don't keep new clothes in the cupboard 'for a special occasion', wear them now! - or throw them out. Done a few charity bag drops this year.
29. blog more, and for others - not sure about this one now.
30. catch a sunrise and sunset in the summer - in dream land...
31. meet some of my favourite Twitter people whom I've not yet met - 2013 FOR SURE. I'm looking at you Jonny Rose @98Rosjon
32. step outside my comfort zone at least once a fortnight (I know, it's me we're talking about though!)
33. stop buying stuff and things. Stuff does not define me. - oh dear! Must try harder...
34. write a letter and send it every month - FAILED. I did write some letters though. And cards.
35. laugh, smile and be thankful - I have certainly done this.

Oh and just as i said i wouldn't be doing lists again, look at one of my fab Christmas presents. My Listography book. It's brilliant. Thanks Ms Nicola!!

Angela x

.

New York, and the one where I tick number 23 off the list

Recently I've been finding lots of new people to follow on YouTube. Quite by accident. It started off with one and then they tagged their friends and i went and had a look and now in my YouTube subscriptions are a bunch of people who blog and vlog (video blog) about their lives, and mostly about beauty things. Anyways, this little group of people (3 from England and 3 from USA) met up in New York and vlogged their way around that city. I got so addicted to watching these vlogs to capture some of the atmosphere and sites of this place that is so mystical to me. It's a place that probably everyone should visit at least once in their lives, shouldn't they?

There were vlogs from the stairs of the Met, top of the Rock, Central Park, hotel rooms, countless restaurants and plenty of shops! I got excited watching them. Of course it helps that this little group of friends seem like such lovely people and such fun. They made the most of their trip and I wanted a piece of that.

Unbeknown to me, turns out this group are pretty popular on YouTube from their beauty channels. Their trip to New york coincided with the IMATS show (international make up artists show) and they decided to do a meet up there for their followers. Lots of young (mostly) girls turned out to meet them and they seemed really overwhelmed and grateful for the showing. I couldn't help but think what a great bunch of role models this group are for their followers. And they say only bad things happen from the internet. This goes to show it's not all shadyness. In fact the complete opposite. I smiled when I wandered through New York with them via their vlogs.

Soooooo......I've already planned my trip in my head. Me, wandering through Soho...grabbing a cupcake at Magnolia...running (or riding a bike) in central park...seeing views from the top of the world (almost)...shopping...Times Square...the Guggenheim...the M&M shop (and I don't even like them!)...walking the Brooklyn Bridge...a boat ride to the statue of liberty...St Patrick's Cathedral...breakfasting on pancakes...riding the subway...a show on Broadway...an international check in on FourSquare (yippee!)...and lots and lots of photos.

So thanks to Tanya, Fleur, Ingrid, Nikki, Jim and Alison for the inspiration, number 23 on The List is being planned. So if you have any hints or tips for great hotels or places to eat or if you want to come or...anything!, let me know. And watch this space.

Angela x

Links to the YouTube channels
Tanya - http://www.youtube.com/user/tanyasvlogsandhauls
Fleur - http://www.youtube.com/user/FleurDeVlog
Ingrid - http://www.youtube.com/user/TheGridMonster
Nikki - http://www.youtube.com/user/NikkiPhillippiTake2
Jim - http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogswithjim
Alison - http://www.youtube.com/user/AllisonVlogs

listed: 35 things in my 35th year

Photo: HeyYoyo on Etsy

Yes. That's right. It's approximately three days until I begin my 35th year. I know! I don't look it, right?  I feel that as a 34 year old I haven't done as much as I'd like (or that society probably expects me to have done) at this age. So we all know that if you write things down then you're bound to stick to them, right? Right. Here below is a list of things I want to accomplish, achieve, do, take part in, live in my 35th year. Feel free to join the ride, kids. #35in35th hashtag it up!

1. a road trip north, south, east and west
2. wear pink lips
3. a sunshine holiday
4. show off my iPhonography - it's pretty cool
5. go out dancing, in heels!
6. ride my bike to work 2 days per week (disclaimer: in summer!)
7. bake more cakes
8. have a dinner party
9. be 8 stone, consistently
10. see a movie at the IMAX - hello Batman!
11. meet new people that like me just the way I am
12. wear a skirt to work regularly
13. eat less sweets and chocolate
14. Alton Towers day trip!
15. try not to bother what anyone else thinks about me. I'm awesome.
16. get full series of a tv programme and watch them all (LoveFilm) what do you suggest?
17. get some cools photos of me done
18. say "yes" to a social outing when I want to say "no"
19. make some of the things from my Crafty board on Pinterest
20. collaborate with someone on a project
21. keep my skin healthy
22. finish reading the book on my bedside table
23. get an international check in on Foursquare
24. tweet a picture from somewhere AMAZING
25. have more faith in my gut instincts. They're usually right.
26. get this blog sorted. If anyone wants to help me please shout!
27. see a real life Banksy (this has been on most of my lists)
28. don't keep new clothes in the cupboard 'for a special occasion', wear them now!
29. blog more, and for others
30. catch a sunrise and sunset in the summer
31. meet some of my favourite Twitter people whom I've not yet met
32. step outside my comfort zone at least once a fortnight (I know, it's me we're talking about though!)
33. stop buying stuff and things. Stuff does not define me
34. write a letter and send it every month
35. laugh, smile and be thankful

Angela x

.

Fabulous December

Occasionally I tweet a few #Angefact's on Twitter and the other day someone tweeted back to say they weren't sure my Ange Fact's were true. Well, they are true. Every single one of them. Perhaps it's because some of them are a little silly? Here's what it was, I said I'd never had a hot chocolate before. That's true. I haven't, but that got me thinking...

I decided that in December there are loads of things going on and loads of stuff to do but i always seem to just Christmas shop my way through it and then kick myself for missing out on the fun. I figured, like i usually do that I'd blog about all these things and turn then into AngeFact's that i have actually done! Good idea eh. And if i blog the list of things i want to do then they're sure to happen, right? So here goes...

1) well it has to be have a HOT CHOCOLATE! This may seem silly but I've never really liked the idea of hot chocolate. Mostly because I'd only ever seen that light brown powdery stuff in the purple tin tub (you know the one). My idea of a perfect hot chocolate would be something along the lines of nutella, but a little more runny. Not bitter stuff mind you. That would put me right off. Can you recommend anywhere that sells nice lovely tasty hot chocolate?

2) wander around the Christmas markets in Edinburgh. I've only ever had a flying visit. Passing through sort of thing on the way to somewhere else. It wasn't enough time to stop and browse and buy little goodies you can't find elsewhere. Want to come along?

3) following on from number 2 is have a go on the big wheel in Princes Street (or George Square). I'm not fussed. Note, if it's windy I'll probably pass up the opportunity.

4) take a long exposure photo. I've always wanted to learn how to take one of these photos. Winter seems like the perfect time to do it. With all the car lights, spinning big wheels, torch words! Let's do it!!

5) blog more. I've totally been slacking of late in the blogging. But I'm going to (try) blog every day in December. I'll try not to put too many photo only posts up.

6) make plans for January. January is a strange month. It's like limbo. Post Christmas blues set in and it seems like there's nothing to do except wait on the new series' of TV programmes to begin. So, I'm trying to add things to my diary to do during this limbo month. What are your January plans? Anything exciting?

7) not go and panic buy more presents on or around 21st December. I plan on having all my Christmas shopping done by mid December at the latest. I've got a few bits in already so that's good.

8) have a night out in my new dress! It's a gorgeous little black dress that I've never had before and i love it. I'd never have worn it a few months ago but now, yes, it's time to get the glad rags on and go out for a night out. Wahey!

I'll leave it at 8 for now. But i may add to this list. Are there little things that pass you by? Things that you might think nothing of doing but never seem to get around to it? Let's all do them!

Angela x
.